- CLINICIAN ADMINISTERED PTSD SCALE (CAPS): the CAPS is a clinical semi-structured interview based on the DSM IV-TR, which is the gold standard to assess PTSD. It is a 30-item structured interview that meets the DSM IV criteria for PTSD. It assesses 4 dimensions of the PTSD: avoidance, reexperiencing the traumatic event, hyperarousal and numbing. Dissociative symptoms are measured by the three CAPS dissociation items (depersonalization, derealization, and reduction in awareness of one's surroundings). It can be used to make a current (past month) or life-time diagnosis of PTSD or to assess symptoms over the past week.